This Little Light of Mine

I just wanted to post a little pic to show how Shai is coming along and to give a brief little update on things. As you can see Texas is as warm as ever. As I am writing we are sitting at a steamy 77 here in Salado. Therefore the shorts have come out, making me look a bit crazy to those around me. In the last couple of weeks Shai has really started to pop out.  He's been moving around a lot. Some of his favorite times have been hiking in the Texas Parks over the last couple of weekends. Every time we would stop for a break, Shai would kick and remind me that he liked the activity. :)

We have another doctor's appointment tomorrow at 11:00am. We have two pressing questions that we want to ask Dr. Louis about Shai. We have done some research and have discovered that these little ones have more of a chance of survival outside the womb if there is a c-section. It makes sense considering they do not have a skull to help them out of the birth canal. It is less stressful on them if a c-section is performed. Don't get me wrong, many have been known to live through a natural birth, it is just that more seem to survive more if there is a c-section. So Pete and I have prayed and we have decided that is the kind of birth we would like. If we can increase the chances of his survival for even a minute then it is worth it to us. We want to hold him in our arms and be able to say goodbye and tell him that we love him. In the end we know God has full control. We are going to ask Dr. Louis tomorrow if he will perform a scheduled c-section. The great thing about that is, more of our family and friends could be present and that is really important to us. If at all possible we would like those closest to us to see and hold Shai before he goes home to our Lord. The other request is that we would like to have a 4-D sonogram done of Shai, for two reasons. The first is, we would love to see our little one with the detail those sonograms provide. The other is, we would like to get a grasp on the severity of his physical deformities before he is born. We would like to be prepared as much as we can be. We know we can't fully know but that is a way we can get an idea. The place we want to use requires a doctor recommendation so we need our doctor's approval.

I also wanted to share this little revelation that God showed me the other day. Amelia and I routinely go for walks with her wagon when Pete is at work. I try to sing kid friendly praise songs, though I don't know many. :) One of my favorites is "This Little Light of Mine". I was singing and one of the phrases stood out so sharply that I stopped singing and started praying. The phrase is "Don't let satan blow it out, I'm going to let it shine, don't let satan blow it out, I'm going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine." This might sound silly but the verse Genesis 50:20 says ^"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. "  Satan is out to kill, steal and destroy. He is always lurking and wants our view to be taken off who God is and put in a place that allows him to blow our light out. He has pressed hard in our family over the last few weeks to blow our light out and intend harm for us through the diagnosis of Shai. He wants to blow our light out for Christ so that we might not see all the great things that God could do through these circumstances. We have already seen and heard so many testimonies of how Shai's life has reached out to others and touched their lives. How it has encouraged their faith and spurred them on in a difficult trial they have to face. It has renewed and deepened their faith. I cannot express how comforting those testimonies are in this time. To know that God is already using something that satan intends for harm and making it into something beautiful. God has our family in His big hands as I have said time and time again. He is right here with us and He is already showing himself mighty. Our little Shai is already touching lives for the Lord and he is not even outside my womb. PRIASE GOD!! My biggest prayer is that Shai would touch lives and cause others to see a bigger picture. To see a God who is mighty, strong and a redeemer. Thank you God for taking something meant for evil and allowing us to already see some of the good you have planned. I needed that reminder because the days can get long but God knew that and provided that truth for me.

Thank you as always for your prayers and support. We have seen what it truly means to be in fellowship. We feel a deep peace knowing that we are not walking this road alone.